Oxidant-Free Conversion of Primary Amines to Nitriles

Abstract

An amide-derived NNN-Ru(II) hydride complex catalyzes oxidant-free, acceptorless, and chemoselective dehydrogenation of primary and secondary amines to the corresponding nitriles and imines with liberation of dihydrogen. The catalyst system tolerates oxidizable functionality and is selective for the dehydrogenation of primary amines (-CH2NH2) in the presence of amines without α-CH hydrogens.